Market test of TAP to continue in July

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) market test will continue with the binding bidding phase in July, said TAP Managing Director Luca Schieppati, Report informs referring to AzerTag.

"We expect to have clarity on results by October. TAP will conduct market tests at least every two years, to offer the expansion capacity (up to TAP’s total capacity of 20 bcm/a)," he added.

The three transmission system operators –TAP AG, Snam Rete Gas (SRG), and DESFA (from now on collectively referred to as the ‘TSOs’) – announced that the ongoing market test’s binding bidding phase would take place in July 2021. Given the current market conditions, the TSOs would like to allow more energy markets to recover.

TAP launched a market test to allow natural gas shippers to express interest, and in a later phase, secure access to new, long-term capacity in TAP, thereby enabling the future expansion of the pipeline capacity.

Four and a half years after the inauguration of construction works in Thessaloniki, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), an 878-km gas transportation system crossing Greece, Albania, the Adriatic Sea, and Italy, began commercial operations.

A diverse team of industry professionals worked diligently and effectively under challenging conditions to deliver a strategic piece of energy infrastructure on schedule safely.

TAP will transport 10 billion cubic meters (bcm/a) of new gas supplies from Azerbaijan to multiple European markets. The TAP system operates in line with internationally recognized quality, health, safety, and environmental standards and is designed with the potential to double its throughput capacity to 20 bcm/a.

The 878km long pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross northern Greece, Albania, and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy, where it will connect to Italy’s gas transportation grid operated by SNAM Rete Gas.

TAP is the Southern Gas Corridor’s European section, enhancing Europe’s energy security and contributing to decarbonization and gas supplies diversification.

TAP’s shareholders include BP (20%), SOCAR (20%), Snam (20%), Fluxys (19%), Enagás (16%) and Axpo (5%).